TYPHOID FEVER IN INDIA, There is
tendency to solve the difficulties connected with the explanation of the prevalence of typhoid fever among Europeans in India by a
referring the causation of the disease to climate. undoubtedly a very convenient and attractive hypothesis that the large and increasing mortality from typhoid fever among European
It is
soldiers is due to this is
cause.
delightfully simple, it
The
is able to
explanation
cover a
multi-
tude of sins of omission and commission of a sanitary nature, avoids an immense deal of trouble in the way of inquiry and investigation, and probably saves a good deal of time and expense. The theory therefore has many ad-
vantages in its favour, and is a splendid pivot inaction, because, unless some one is prepared to come forward in the capacity of rain-maker, or in the wider sphere of general regulator of the weather, action of any kind is a waste of energy. The only agencies likely to be brought to for
bear
on
the
statistics and
subject a
from
are
a
bewildering
series of weather
set of
charts,
both
interesting general epidemiological and natural history point of view, but unfortunately affording no protection against the disease. From a pi'eventive point of view to treat the climatic theory seriously would be giving it too much importance, for 'it is not based on observed facts a
and is inconsistent with those which have been observed. Typhoid fever is not peculiar to India
and its climate.
It is to be found in almost
every place to which Europeans have migrated, and in every part of the world thorough
July
THE PLAGUE IN HONGKONG.
1894.]
investigation, when made, has
demonstrated that
whatever favourable effect heat and moisture may exercise on the development of typhoid germs,
as on
other
organisms,
of the disease
spread closely
tions the
sanitary
dependent on condirelated to man's mode of living and conditions under which he is placed;
and until it is shown in not
outbreaks and the
are
a
very conclusive manner the product of a
by suggestive hypothesis,
elaborated in the
lively imagination,
study
or
office, but by careful and repeated inquiry, supported by scientific research, by men specially trained to such inquiry and research, that the laws affecting t}'phoid fever in its relation to man are totally different in India from those which govern it in other countries no one responsible for the health of the European soldiers in India in cantonments or on the march has any justification for attributing the prevalence of
typhoid
fever to climate.
It is with much letter
Dr.
pleasure on
the
Ranking's refers to the water-supply of food-stuffs from
we
publish
subject
in which he
and the
preservation
contamination by
drawing special
germs, sity of
that
typhoid
attention to the
neces-
destroying the contaminating agenc}7 by the adoption of efficacious measures for the disposal of excreta and other sources of infection emanating from the subjects of typhoid; and giving special prominence to the manner of dis-
of the bodies of those who have succumbed to the disease. The role of water in the producfever in towns, tion of and
posal
typhoid
too
villages
basis to be that such is not the statement by any in Northern India. In the French Army
barracks is
a
fact
on
sure
a
affected case
the
mortality from typhoid was by the introduction of
than half
land Filter. the
subject
reduced
more
the Chamber-
It would be interesting to study from this point of view in the
of India. It is not sufficient to supply a barrack with pure water if other supplies of a doubtful purity are at hand and equally easy of access. Wells which have been condemned should certainly be filled up, a procedure which is not always adopted. There are, however, other means by which typhoid fever besides water, and Dr. can i '6
European Army
spread
Ranking's
the infection of the soil and the resistance of the typhoid germs to external influences are most opportune and deserve careful remarks
on
attention.
263